Arithmetic instructions in 8051

There are 111 instructions present in the 8051 microcontroller, which includes arithmetic instructions of 8051 and classified as

  • Arithmetic instruction set.
  • Logical instruction set.
  • Boolean instructions ( bit operations ).
  • Data transfer instruction set.
  • Branch control group.
  • Instruction set branch control SJMP LJMP AJMP.

Arithmetic instruction set:

There are 24 arithmetic instructions in 8051 microcontroller, but there are 64 opcodes. Reason for more opcodes is these 24 operations affect flag registers ( carry flag, auxiliary flag and overflow flag ). 

ADD A , #14H 
A  ← A + 14H
Here we are adding number 14H ( H stands for hexadecimal number ) to the value of A register and the final value is stored in A register. Addition result can be a 9-bit number, then the 9th bit is represented by carry flag. If CF = 1, then there was a carry out of MSB. Here A register was used, if any other register is used, then also result would be stored in A register, as it is a accumulator.

ADD A, 14H
A ←A + data of 14H
Data in the location of 14H  is added with the value of A register and the final result is stored in A register.

ADD A ,Rr { r starts from 0 to 7 }:
A  ← A + Rr
Register A is added with the general purpose register ( defined register ), there are 8 general purpose registers in 8051.

ADD A, @RP { only R0 and R1 }:
A  ← A + value of the location, stored in the RP register. 

Example : ADD A, @R0

arithmetic instructions in 8051

The answer of this addition would be 5H + 3H , which is 8H.

These two are similar instructions. Till we have seen 8 arithmetic instructions of 8051 ( normal addition and addition with a carry ).

ADDC A, #14H :

ADDC stands for addition with carry. 
A  ← A + 14H + CF CF = previous data stored in carry flag.
This instruction comes into play when we perform additions with carry. 

Example : Add 2FH and 13H ( hexadecimal addition )
2 F    
  + 1 3
In this addition first F + 3 is added, which is 12 , 1 is carry which is stored in the carry flag. Next 8051 adds 2 + 1 + 1( carry stored in the carry flag ).

ADDC A, 14H :

This is similar to the above instruction, but instead of adding directly 14H ,here the data from that location is accessed. Final result is stored in A register. 

ADDC A, R0 :

ADDC A, @R0 :

SUBB A, #14H:

This stands for subtraction with a borrow. This is similar to addition with a carry. 

A ← A – 14H – borrow.

Where is this borrow is stored ?

Either borrow or carry, both are stored in a carry flag. If the 8051 is performing addition, flag stores carry, and if 8051 performs subtraction it stores borrow. Make sure we clear the carry flag before performing subtraction. 

CLR C;
SUBB A, #15H ;

If the carry flag is not cleared, data stored in the carry flag will bring us a wrong result. 

[ SUBB A, 14H ] [ SUBB A, @R0 ] [SUBB A, R0 ]

These four instructions are similar to addition instructions.

INC A :

This instruction increments the value of A.
What is A is FF ?
Then after incrementing A becomes 00 , it’s a circular loop. 

INC R0 :
Increments the register value.

INC 25H :
Increment the data stored in this location.

INC @R0 :
Increments the data of the location, stored in this register.

INC DPTR :
It is a 16-bit operation. It increases the data pointer SFR.

DEC A , DEC R0 ,DEC 25H ,DEC @R0

These four operations are for decrementing the values.

MUL A B : 
This operation multiplies A and B registers. Multiplication of two 8-bit numbers is a 16-bit number and thus A register can’t hold the whole result. There are two bytes in the result, and thus they are divided as higher byte and lower byte. We don’t always get a 16-bit result, there are chances of even getting an 8-bit result ( then it would be part of a lower byte ). A register always stores the result , so lower byte is stored in A register and higher byte is stored in B register.

BHigher byte . ALower byte  ←  A * B

DIV A B:
This is a division instruction, allowed only on A and B registers. 8051 don’t give us division results in fraction. 8051 does not deal with floating numbers. 
BRemainder . AQuotient  ←  A / B

A quotient is an important result of a division , so it is stored in A and an optional result in B register. 

Division with zero ?
Then A and B registers are filled with garbage value and this thing is indicated by an overflow flag. If overflow flag = 1, A and B have garbage values.

DA A:   { decimal adjustment after addition }

This is a common instruction in many other microcontrollers and microprocessors. Whenever an user gives numbers for operations numbers are given in decimal form ( not hexadecimal ), but the 8051 performs operations considering those numbers in hexadecimal form. Once the 8051 performs the operation it is sent to DA A for conversion to decimal form. 

arithmetic instructions in 8051

LN stands for lower nibble, HN stands for higher nibble.

CF stands for carry flag , AC stands for auxiliary flag.

Example 1:

Add 20 + 30 { user has given these numbers } ( decimal form )
8051 considers them hexadecimal numbers and performs hexadecimal addition. 

arithmetic instructions in 8051

LN ( 0 + 0 ) = 0 , LN is not > 9  and Auxiliary carry is not equal = 1

HN ( 2 + 3) = 5 , HN is not > 9  and Carry flag is not equal = 1

Both the conditions didn’t satisfy , so 50 is the final answer.

Example 2:

Add 25 + 25 { user has given these numbers } ( decimal form )

8051 considers them hexadecimal numbers and performs hexadecimal addition. 

arithmetic instructions in 8051

LN ( 5 + 5 ) = A , LN > 9  and Auxiliary carry is not equal = 1 , so add 06 to LN

HN ( 2 + 2) = 4 , HN is not > 9  and Carry flag is not equal = 1

One of the conditions is satisfied , so 4A is the not the final answer.  Add 06 to 4A , so we get 50, which is the correct decimal form.

Example 3:

Add 50 + 50 { user has given these numbers } ( decimal form )

8051 considers them hexadecimal numbers and performs hexadecimal addition. 

arithmetic instructions in 8051 microcontroller

LN ( 0 + 0 ) = 0 , LN is not > 9  and Auxiliary carry is not equal = 1

HN ( 5 + 5) = A , HN > 9  and Carry flag is not equal = 1, so add 60 to HN

One of the conditions is satisfied , so A0 is not the final answer.  Add 60 to A0 , so we get 100, which is the correct decimal form.

Example 4:

Add 99 + 99 { user has given these numbers } ( decimal form )

8051 considers them hexadecimal numbers and performs hexadecimal addition. 

arithmetic instructions in 8051

LN ( 9 + 9 ) = 2 , LN is not > 9  and Auxiliary carry equal = 1, so add 06 to LN

HN ( 9 + 9) = 3 , HN > 9  and Carry flag is equal = 1, so add 60 to HN

Two of the conditions are satisfied , so 132 is not the final answer.  Add 60 to 132 and also 06 , so we get 196, which is the correct decimal form. 

Related topics:
Arithmetic instructions in 8086
Logical instructions in 8051

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